Alumni Association Announces Award Recipients

Awards Banquet honorees include Gene Lucas, Robert & Lynn Koegel and Michael Towbes

The 2011 UCSB Alumni Association Awards Banquet, scheduled for Friday night, April 29, 2011, will honor Gene Lucas, Executive Vice Chancellor for UCSB, Robert and Lynn Koegel of the Koegel Autism Research Center, and Michael Towbes, founder and chair of Montecito Bank & Trust.

Graver Service Award
The Graver Service Award is given to a graduate or former student who has successfully completed 12 quarter hours of work at UCSB or its predecessor institutions (UCSBC, Santa Barbara State College, Santa Barbara State Teachers College) and demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the University through direct and meaningful involvement with Association-related activities.

Gene Lucas, Executive Vice Chancellor, UC Santa Barbara

Gene Lucas, class of 1973, has been a visionary leader at UC Santa Barbara during some of its most difficult challenges. As the chief academic officer on campus he has guided the campus to the highest tiers of research universities from around the world. His work on the Long Range Development Plan has ensured that UC Santa Barbara will be a premier research institution well into the future. In recognition of his service to UC Santa Barbara and the Alumni Association, Gene Lucas has been named the 2011 recipient of the Chuck Graver University Service Award.

Honorary and Distinguished Awards

The Honorary Alumni Award is given to a non-alumnus/alumna of UCSB. The nominee must be a friend of UCSB or its predecessor institutions (UCSBC, Santa Barbara State College, Santa Barbara State Teachers College) whose dedication and commitment has significantly enriched the substance and contributed to the reputation of UCSB as one of the nation's leading universities. The nominee must have attained significant professional or personal accomplishments and demonstrated exceptional integrity and character.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to a graduate or former student who has successfully completed 12 quarter hours of work at UCSB or its predecessor institutions (UCSBC, Santa Barbara State College, Santa Barbara State Teachers College). The nominee must have achieved outstanding recognition in his/her field of endeavor.

Robert and Lynn Koegel, Koegel Autism Research Center

Robert and Lynn Koegel launched what is now considered one of the foremost research centers in the world for the study of autism. It has received national recognition from the National Academy of Sciences while working with patients from around the world. Lynn Koegel, Ph.D. class of 1993, has written one of the seminal books on the treatment of autism, “Overcoming Autism.” Their center inside the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education is one of the most important training clinics for professionals treating autism around the world. For their service to the greater community and distinguished work Robert Koegel has been named a recipient of an Honorary Alumni Award and Lynn Koegel has been named the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Michael Towbes, founder and chair Montecito Bank & Trust

Michael Towbes is a philanthropist whose generosity has had a major impact on the culture and quality of life of the greater Santa Barbara community. A member of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees, Towbes has also been a generous donor to the campus. He has served as a board member and the chair of the UC Santa Barbara-based Economic Forecast Project. In recognition of his philanthropy and contribution to UC Santa Barbara Michael Towbes has been named a recipient of the 2011 Honorary Alumni Award.

Title Sponsor Announced for Taste of UCSB

We are excited to announce that Village Properties is the Title Sponsor for the Taste of UCSB. Check out their website at villagesite.com!

Don't forget to register for this year's event! You don't want to miss out on this fabulous weekend. Register at http://ucsb.imodules.com/2011AGR

Registration Now Available

Registration for this year's event is now up! Register for a great weekend at http://ucsb.imodules.com/2011AGR

Don't miss out on all the Gaucho festivities!

DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2011 UCSB RUNNING SERIES

UCSB Alumni Association attempts to outpace last year's record of $10,000 raised for student scholarships

(Santa Barbara, CA) - The UCSB Running Series is back and according to event organizers, the 2011 version promises to be even better than 2010's. In addition to the individual competitions, the race series features a unique team challenge that pits between five and nine individuals against other teams with the top five "scoring" for team bragging rights. Proceeds of all three races will benefit the UCSB Alumni Association Student Scholarship Fund. The UCSB Running Series has raised nearly $20,000 for student scholarships at UCSB since 2008, with $10,000 given in 2010 alone.

The first race in the series, Romeo's 4 Miler, set for January 29, 2011, brings back a cherished Santa Barbara running tradition: the Couples Relay. Here couples compete against other couples over a four mile distance with each person doing one mile loop before handing off to the other. The Shamrock 5 Miler, to be held on March 12, 2011, brings runners to the beautiful but rarely visited West Campus of UCSB, while also allowing participants to sample the "wild" streets of Isla Vista. Finally, the Gaucho Gallop will kick off the 5th annual All Gaucho Reunion in dramatic fashion on April 30, 2011. The All Gaucho Reunion, a weekend full of social events, lectures and of course reunions, will bring an estimated 6,000 UCSB alumni and friends back to campus.

TASTE OF UCSB UNVEILED

Due to the success of the Alumni Vintner's Tasting events, we have decided to (in true Gaucho style) go bigger and better. Join Ole and the rest of us on Saturday, April 30th for the Taste of UCSB. Featuring food, wine, beer and other goodies produced by some of UCSB's finest alumni. Further details will be posted soon.

-Your UCSB Alumni Association

SAVE THE DATE!
5th Annual All Gaucho Reunion to happen April 29 - May 1, 2011

(Santa Barbara, CA) - The UCSB Alumni Association has announced the dates for the 5th Annual All Gaucho Reunion to be April 29 - May 1, 2011. The schedule includes the 3rd annual Alumni Vintners Tasting, Gaucho Gallop, Alumni Association Awards Banquet, Golden Gaucho Reunion Luncheon and much more. For updated information, be sure to check out www.ucsbalum.com/agr.